Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

[Timothy K.]

Looking for any feedback on the Goodyear Steelgard radials that Kelsey Tire is now offering. I'm looking for a tire that would be both good on the open road as well as for show. Based on the pictures, these carry the original tread design which of course is older technology but as long as they handle and ride relatively well, that's what I'm looking for.
I'm considering putting my money down on a set for my '73 so any experiences or opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim
(26883)

[Peter G.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Timothy..met Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey at the NCRS North Central Regional and also got to view the new prototype GR70-15 tire.

I thought the tire was excellent and now have a set for my '73 "on order"! Hoping to received them prior to our NCRS Chapter Meet on September 9th here in Denver.

A set of these tires are in my opinion priced as an "investment", but that's okay as we ('73 owners) have been waiting for a long time for someone to step up and make the repo GR70-15 tire for us.

Thank you Kelsey Tire.

[Todd L.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Would these be the same tires as on the 74's as well? How would they do for judging?

Todd

[Peter G.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Todd..yes they were also available on the '74 models.

I looked the prototype tire over very good and even did several times. Also discussed the viewing with other C3 Master Judges that were looking at the tire too. We were all convinced that the tire should withstand NCRS Judging standards without any deductions.

I guess we won't know for sure until some hands on judging with these tires is done.

They appear to be exact reproductions of the original tires.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

They origional ones I took off the low mi. 73 I sold years ago I beleave had Firestones with raised white letters. They are up in my attic so I will look.

[Timothy K.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Guys-

Thanks for the comments. Again, I'm more interested in the driveability aspect of these tires then for show purposes. I really don't show the car much since I attained the Duntov Award several years ago now. I have my set of 39 year Goodyear Steelgard whitewalls for that.
I didn't see anything regarding construction of this particular tire compared the other Goodyear tires on Kelsey's site. In the past I've heard stories (not of Kelsey Tire) that a reproduction tire looks great but drives horribly so I may hold off for a while until there are more sets of these on the road. Just want to make sure they performance as well as the originals, no better, no worse, and don't want to make an expensve mistake.
Again, thanks for your input.
Tim
26883

[Dave S.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Todd..yes they were also available on the '74 models.

I looked the prototype tire over very good and even did several times. Also discussed the viewing with other C3 Master Judges that were looking at the tire too. We were all convinced that the tire should withstand NCRS Judging standards without any deductions.

I guess we won't know for sure until some hands on judging with these tires is done.

They appear to be exact reproductions of the original tires.

Peter,

The exact reproductions will judge very well except for the date. New tires will have a current date code which an experienced judge will detect as a deviation from originals. It will be a minor deduction but you should not expect 100% of the points.

[Terry M.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Guys-

Thanks for the comments. Again, I'm more interested in the driveability aspect of these tires then for show purposes. I really don't show the car much since I attained the Duntov Award several years ago now. I have my set of 39 year Goodyear Steelgard whitewalls for that.
I didn't see anything regarding construction of this particular tire compared the other Goodyear tires on Kelsey's site. In the past I've heard stories (not of Kelsey Tire) that a reproduction tire looks great but drives horribly so I may hold off for a while until there are more sets of these on the road. Just want to make sure they performance as well as the originals, no better, no worse, and don't want to make an expensve mistake.
Again, thanks for your input.
Tim
26883

When I was 1970-72 National Team Leader I worked with John Kelsey on the F70 15 Goodyear reproduction. One of the points we discussed was the sidewall labeling "Nylon Cord." I was insistent that had to appear on the sidewall because it was on the original sidewalls. John's response was that if that labeling was on the sidewall then that had to be the material used in the construction of the tire (tyre for some of you). The result has garnered some complaints form those with short memories, or who are too young, about the handling. I think you can count on John to make a faithful reproduction -- warts and all.

[Peter G.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Timothy..probably the tires that drove badly were the bias-ply tires and they all drive badly. That is why most C1 and C2 drivers put radials on for driving.


Dave..correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that date codes of tires were only printed or stamped on the INSIDE of the tire and we only look at tire date codes on the spare tire?

[Dave S.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Timothy..probably the tires that drove badly were the bias-ply tires and they all drive badly. That is why most C1 and C2 drivers put radials on for driving.


Dave..correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that date codes of tires were only printed or stamped on the INSIDE of the tire and we only look at tire date codes on the spare tire?

Peter,
You are correct in that the date codes are on the inside of the tire where they are fairly easily seen if the judge is willing to lay on the ground and look. I've always felt it is OK to look at the inside of the four tires for the dates and other originality aspects of the tires. If some or all are not visible then the benefit of the doubt should go to the car.

[Tom R.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Dave..correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that date codes of tires were only printed or stamped on the INSIDE of the tire and we only look at tire date codes on the spare tire?

I worked with John Kelsey on the P255 and P225 Good Year Radials introduced in 1978 and asked him about the format of the DOT tire identification number or TIN that included the date code. He wrote:

Twelve alpha numeric characters are used on a tire. All of which are required to be displayed on the reverse side of a tire, bias or radial. D.O.T. 139, for radials only, does require that all TIN requirements be met, with the exception of the date of manufacture, on the sidewall to be placed on the outboard side of the mounted assembly. All required TIN information is to be located just above the rim seating groove on both the obverse and reverse side of the tire.

New tires are required by DOT 139 to comply with the consumer notifications. The consumer tire safety groups wanted the date format to be de-coded and a consumer-friendly format used like August 2, 2012 rather than the four-digit code. I suspect the compromise was to stamp it on the front side (outboard) but in the traditional TIN format. Note John's reference to "Dot 139 for radials only."

[Peter G.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

I guess checking for date codes on tires on the insides of tires on the ground would not be uncommon on C1s and C2s. On early C3s which is what we are talking about for this new radial tire....the Firestone Radial 500 was used for almost half of the years in the 70s and you just don't see cars presented on the Judging Field with original tires (and there were no repoduction tires) to compare by checking date codes that often. Most early C3s are brought with "Service Replacement" in the P-metric sizing and just receive the "Standard Deduct" on tires. Now things will be different with a repo tire now available. I don't know the number percentages, but from my experience with the Corvette tires from the early 70's..the Goodyear Steelgard was installed maybe 1 in 4. They were mostly Firestones with the exception of 1974. This is just my observation back then til now. If anyone knows the numbers I would be very interested in it.


Also another question comes to mind with that: Why did Mr. Kelsey and Kelsey Tire decided to reproduce the Goodyear instead of the Firestone?

To give you a example of my thinking....C2 Redlines..you see both original and repo tires so you I would agree on the need to determin new or old?

[Duke W.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Kelsey has exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute Goodyear brand vintage tires, and Goodyear is the only brand he offers.

Duke

[Peter G.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Tim...got my new set of Kelsey Tire's Goodyear Steelgard radial tires now on my 1973 LS4 Coupe!

They ride really nice compared to my 1975 date coded Uniroyal GR70x15 tire which had about 50% tread remaining. Soft and quiet.

Had my car judged last week at a NCRS Chapter Meet and all five tires received NO deductions. My spare is a original Goodyear Steelgard RWL GR70x15 tire also. I guess the Judges loved the new tires.

Drop me a private message, I can maybe save you some money on the purchase like I did.

[George W.]

Re: Goodyear Steelgard Reproductions

Peter, would love to see some pictures of the mounted tires.